Public Housing

Providing Sustainable Alternatives to Families and Seniors

What is Public Housing?

Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing these developments.

Who is Eligible?

Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. If LBHA determines your eligibility based on: 1) annual gross income; 2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, LBHA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. LBHA will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project’s environment.

How to Apply.

If you are interested in applying for public housing, please Click Here for an application.. If you have trouble with the link, please contact us directly at 732.222.3747.

How Does the Application Process Work?

The application must be written.. LBHA usually needs to collect the following information to determine eligibility:

  1. Names of all persons who would be living in the unit, their sex, date of birth, and relationship to the family head;
  2. Your present address and telephone number;
  3. Family characteristics (e.g., veteran) or circumstances (e.g., living in substandard housing) that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences;
  4. Names and addresses of your current and previous landlords for information about your family’s suitability as a tenant;
  5. An estimate of your family’s anticipated income for the next twelve months and the sources of that income;
  6. The names and addresses of employers, banks, and any other information the HA would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition; and
  7. The PHA also may visit you in your home to interview you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of you current home.

After obtaining this information, a LBHA representative should describe the public housing program and its requirements, and answer any questions you might have.

Will I Need to Produce Any Documentation?

Yes, a LBHA representative will request whatever documentation is needed (e.g., birth certificates, tax returns) to verify the information given on your application. LBHA will also rely on direct verification from your employer, etc. You will be asked to sign a form to authorize release of pertinent information to LBHA.

When Will I Be Notified?

LBHA will to provide written notification. If LBHA determines that you are eligible, your name will be put on a waiting list, unless we are able to assist you immediately. Once your name is reached on the waiting list, we will contact you. If it is determined that you are ineligible, LBHA must state why and, if you wish, you can request an informal hearing.

Will I Have to Sign a Lease?

If you are offered a house or apartment and accept it, you will have to sign a lease with the LBHA. You may have to give the LBHA a security deposit. You and the LBHA representative should go over the lease together. This will give you a better understanding of your responsibilities as a tenant and the LBHA’s responsibilities as a landlord.

How is Rent Determined?

Your rent, which is referred to as the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) in this program, would be based on your family’s anticipated gross annual income less deductions, if any. HUD regulations allow HAs to exclude from annual income the following allowances: $480 for each dependent; $400 for any elderly family, or a person with a disability; and some medical deductions for families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities. Based on your application, the HA representative will determine if any of the allowable deductions should be subtracted from your annual income. Annual income is the anticipated total income from all sources received from the family head and spouse, and each additional member of the family 18 years of age or older.

What is the Role of the LBHA?

LBHA is responsible for the management and operation of its local public housing program. They may also operate other types of housing programs.

  1. On-going functions: (a) Assure compliance with leases. The lease must be signed by both parties; (b) Set other charges (e.g., security deposit, excess utility consumption, and damages to unit); (c) Perform periodic reexaminations of the family’s income at least once every 12 months; (d) Transfer families from one unit to another, in order to correct over/under crowding, repair or renovate a dwelling, or because of a resident’s request to be transferred; (e) Terminate leases when necessary; and (f) maintain the development in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition.
  2. LBHA may also provide other services, that may include such things as: homeownership opportunities for qualified families; employment training opportunities, and other special training and employment programs for residents; and support programs for the elderly.

How Long Can I Stay in Public Housing?

In general, you may stay in public housing as long as you comply with the lease.

If, at reexamination your family’s income is sufficient to obtain housing on the private market, the LBHA may determine whether your family should stay in public housing.

Applications for Public Housing and Senior Housing are Currently Closed.